Dynamo 2.0 ready to take Dayton by storm


Dynamo Dates to Know

April 1-Preseason camp opens

April 10-4 p.m. preseason match at Urbana University

May 1-6 p.m. preseason match vs. Akron University at Wright State

May 7-Season opener at Ann Arbor

May 13-7 p.m. home opener vs. Lansing United

• Tickets (single game, season and lifetime) available at www.daytondynamo.com

MEET THE DYNAMO

Andres Acevedo, forward

Hometown: New York City

High school: IMG Academy

College: University of Dayton

Previous Clubs: IMG Academy (pdl), Jersey Express (pdl), US Men’s National Team U17 (camp)

Henok Alemayahu, forward/midfielder

Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

High school: Mountain Mission School, Virginia

Jon Cottrell, midfielder

Hometown: Plymouth, England

High school: Dubai College

College: University of Cincinnati

Previous club: Cincinnati Saints

Michael Deyhle, defender

Hometown: Cincinnati

High school: LaSalle

College: University of Dayton

Previous club: Cincinnati Saints

Mitch Deyhle, defender

Hometown: Cincinnati

High school: LaSalle

College: Ashland University

Previous club: Cincinnati Saints

Marc Hansson, forward

Hometown: Trelleborg, Sweden

High school: Fairfield High School

College: Cincinnati State

Previous clubs: KVC Westerlo (Belgium), Hostivice (Czech Republic), FC Brno (Czech Republic), Cincinnati Saints

Jonathan McClain, defender

Hometown: Huber Heights

High school: Wayne

College: Wright State, Akron

Khristian Montoya, forward

Hometown: La Ceiba Atlántida, Honduras

High school: Instituto Polivalente Marcelino Poncel

Previous club: Social Sol (Honduras), Cincinnati Saints

Christian Myton, midfielder

Hometown: Dayton

High school: Chaminade Julienne

College: University of Cincinnati

Previous club: Cincinnati Saints

Alex Vandersluijs, midfielder/forward

Hometown: Dayton

High school: Carroll

College: Wright State/Wilmington

Previous clubs: Cincinnati Kings, Dayton Dutch Lions

Tyler Washington, striker

Hometown: Xenia

High School: Xenia High School

College: Cincinnati State

Previous Club: West Virginia Chaos, Latorps IF Örebro (Sweden)

Corey Whisenhunt, goalkeeper

Hometown: Kettering

High school: Fairmont High School

College: High Point University, Wright State

Dave Wall, head coach

Hometown: Derbyshire, England

There was little doubt in David Satterwhite’s mind as to what the team name should be.

When Satterwhite decided to move the National Premier Soccer League Cincinnati Saints to Dayton last year, finding a name was the easy part for the organization’s president and CEO. Almost without fail, no matter who he asked, the answer was the same — the “Dayton Dynamo.”

“I thought, wow, they haven’t played in 20 years,” Satterwhite said. “But who am I to tell the fans what they do or don’t want.”

Those fans will get what they want when the Dynamo take the field for their inaugural season in a May 13 home opener. But many anxious fans got a sneak peek at a jersey reveal party at the Dayton Beer Company on Thursday. In addition to home and away jerseys, a throwback jersey in honor of the original Dynamo squad made its debut.

“We want those guys to feel a part of this club,” Satterwhite said.

The Dynamo join a Dayton soccer scene that already includes the Dayton Dutch Lions FC, a USL Premier Development League team that plays at West Carrollton High School. The Dynamo will play this season at Welcome Stadium and move to Chaminade Julienne’s Roger Glass Stadium in 2017.

Looking back

With fan favorites like Tony Bono, Jeff Popp and Carlos Pena, the previous incarnation of the Dynamo played indoor soccer in Dayton from 1988-1995 before the National Professional Soccer League franchise moved and became the Cincinnati Silverbacks.

Founded in 2009, the Cincinnati Saints fielded both men’s and women’s clubs. From 2014-15, the men competed in the NPSL and the Lady Saints competed in the WPSL. The men also played several seasons of professional indoor soccer.

In November 2015, the Saints announced plans to move the club to Dayton. The rebranding was completed on Dec. 3, when the club officially became the Dayton Dynamo. The women’s franchise license was sold to another ownership group in Cincinnati and the team is now called Ohio Sirens FC.

Moving forward

The Dynamo play in the NPSL Great Lakes West Division with Lansing United, Detroit City FC, Kalamazoo FC, AFC Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids FC, and the Michigan Stars.

While Welcome Stadium will be home this year, Satterwhite is excited to make the move to Roger Glass Stadium — which will seat about 2,150 — next season.

“From a fan perspective, with no track, you’ll be close to the field,” Satterwhite said. “It will be more intimate.”

There will be some familiar faces in the lineup including several former local high school and collegiate players.

Midfielders Christian Myton (Chaminade Julienne) and Alex Vandersluijs (Carroll), defender Jonathan McClain (Wayne), striker Tyler Washington (Xenia) and goalkeeper Corey Whisenhunt (Fairmont) all came up through the local high school ranks.

Forward Andres Acevedo and defender Michael Deyhle played for the University of Dayton while McClain, Vandersluijs and Whisenhunt all suited up for the Wright State Raiders.

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